Coot-contiiolleb mechanism



H. R. ROBERTS.

COIN CONTROLLED MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED FEB-16,1922.

1,410,510, Patented Mar. 21,1922.

COIN-CONTROLLED MECHANISM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 21, 1922.

Application filed February 16, 1922. Serial No. 537,003.

ful Improvements in Coin-Controlled Mechtion.

anism, of which the following is a specifica- My invention relates tocoin controlled means, for use in connection with a combined clock andbank, while not necessarily restricted to this use.

An important object of the invention is to provide means of the abovementioned character, whereby a coin must be fed into the coin shoot,before the clock may be wound, the construction being such that coins ofdifferent sizes or denominations may be employed to permit of thewinding of the clock.

A. further object of the invention 18 to provide means of the abovementioned character, which are extremely simple in con struction, cheapto manufacture and reliable in operation.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of the abovementioned character, which may be applied to a clock of the ordinaryconstruction, without materially altering its construction.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent duringthe course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, andin which l ke numerals are employed to designate like parts throughoutthe same,

Fig. 1 is an elevation of the front side of a clock embodying myinvention,

Fig. 2 is a similar view of the rear side of the clock,

Fig. 3 is a similar view with the rear plate or cover removed,

Fig. 1 is a detail section taken on line e e ofFig. 2, showing the coinslot,

Fig. 5 is a fra mnentaryelevation of the inner side of the rear plate orcover, showing the reciprocatory coin pusher,

Fig. 6 is a transverse section taken on line 6-43 of Fig. 5, and,

Fig. 7 is a transverse section taken on line 7-7 of Fig. 2. y

In the drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown apreferred embodiment of my invention, the numeral 10 deslgnatcs thecasing of a clock, shown as a desk clock, while the invention is in nosense restricted to this particular form of clock. The upper portion ofthe casing receives and holds the clock works, including a frame plate11. The numeral 12 designates the dial and 13 the hands of the clock.The lower port on of the casin is in the form of a coin receiving andholdlng chamber 14.

The rear side or back of the casing is open, and is adapted to becovered by a plate or cover 15, which is slid upwardly between a flange16, and brackets 17, spaced from these flanges. The plate or cover 15 isheld agzunst downward movement by a bottom 18, which is locked to thecasing 10 by any suitable means. When the bottom 18 is removed from thecasing, the plate or cover 15 may then-be removed therefrom, by adownward movement with relation thereto.

The numeral 18 designates a ratchet wheel, which is suitably mountedupon the winding shaft or stem of a clock works. Where the invention isapplied to the ordinary clock, the key carried by the winding shaft isremoved and the ratchet wheel 18 substituted therefor. The ratchet wheel18 must be turned in the direction of its arrow, to wind the clock. Theratchet wheel 18 is provided with a slotted hub 19, arranged bencath anopening 20, in the plate 15, as shown in Fig. 2. A. suitable key may beinserted through the opening 20 and engaged with the slotted hub 19 toturn the ratchet wheel.

The numeral 21 designates an approximately vertically arranged arm orlever, pivoted at 22, upon the frame plate 11. The upper end of thislever is bent laterally into a dog or pawl 23, held in engagement withthe ratchet wheel 18 by a leaf spring 24., M

secured thereto. This leaf spring is slidably v mounted in an apertureformed in a sta-\ tionary stud. 25. i The rear plate or cover 15 isprovided in its central portion with an outwardly pressed hollow rib 26.preferably horizontally arranged. A reciprocatory carriage 27, curved incross section, is slidably mounted upon the exterior of this rib, and isguided thereby. The numeral 28 designates a reciprocatory coin pusher,connected with the carriage 27 by means of a transverse stud 29,slidable in a slot 30, formed in the rib 26.

lot

Thecoin pusher 28 has its free end bent laterally into an extension 31,adapted to be arrange-d beneath and in alignment with the lower end ofthe arm 21, when the pusher is in the starting position, and forms acontinuation, in ed'ect, of the arm 21. The coin pusher 28 is providedwith an upstanding portion or arm 32, having a laterally and forwardlyextending flange The flange 33 constitutes one edge wall of the coinshoot. and the lever 21 the other edge wall. while-the plates 11 and 15constitute the side walls. In other words. the coin passes between theplates 11 and 15. and is supported between flange 3.3 and the lower endof the lever 21; whereby when the coin pusher 28 is shifted to theright, the lever will be swung upon its pivot, and the ratchet wheel 8released. a

The coin pusher 28 is providedwith adjustable means to support andrelease the coins,' the same including a reciprocatory rod or pin 34,slidable within a housing-35, and projecting through an opening 36, inthe coin pusher 28. The rod or pin 3-1: is normally retained in theouter position by a. compressible coil spring 37, and the rod is pushedinwardly by a button 38 secured to its outer end. When the rod is pushedinwardly, it extends across the coin shoot, and hence will support thecoin between the flange 32 and the lever 21, asindicated in Fig. 5.

The coin is fed into the coin shoot through an opening 39, formed inthe-plate 15. which opening. is partly covered by a guard 40.

The coin opening 39 is of a diameter to receive a coin of the maximumdiameter, such for instance as a quarter. and the coin shoot, having itswidth defined by the flange 33 and lever 21, is suficiently wide toreceive a coin having the maximum diameter. as the quarter. Thisconstruction permits of the use of a quarter, and all coinsof smallerdiameters such as pennies, dimes or nickles. i

To wind the clock the carriage 27 is shifted to the left, Fig. the clockmay be held in the left hand,,wi the thumb depressing the button 38. Thecoin is now introduced'into the opening 39, and will gravitatedownwardly within the coin shoot, and rest upon the inner end of the rodor pin 34. now projecting inwardly beyond the plate 15. The button,while retained ,depressed,'is now shifted to the right, Fig.

2,-which movement advances the carriage-27 and coin pusher 28 in thesame direction.- The flange 33 now engages the coin and moves it intoengagement with the lower end of the lever 21, whereby the dog or pawl23 will release the ratchet wheel 18. While retaining the button 38depressed in the shifted position, the hey is em loved to turn theratchet wheel 18 in the direction of its anionic rod or pin 34: to theouter position. and the coin falls into the coin chamber 14. from whichit may be removed by the authorized person.

. It is to be understood that the form of my invention herein shown anddescribed is to be taken as a preferred example of the same, and thatvarious changes in the shape. size, and arrangement of parts may beresorted to, without departing from the spirit of my invention, or thescope .of the subjoined claims.

Having thus described my invention, 1 claim:

1. The combination with a ratchet wheel adapted to be secured to thewinding element of .a clock works, of a pivoted lever having a portionthereof arranged to engage the ratchet wheel. a spring to normally holdthe lever in engagement with the ratchet wheel, a plate arranged uponone side of the lever a reciprocatory coin pusher carried by the plateand provided with an upstanding coin engaging element arranged oppositea portion of the lever. a reciprocatory bolt carried by the coin pushingelement and adapted to be shifted inwardly into the path of travel ofthe'coin for supporting the same. and a spring to move the ment of aclock works. of a pivoted lever having a portion thereof normallyengaging the ratchet wheel. a movable coin pusher arranged near theleverand carrying a coin engaging element disposed opposite the lever inspaced relation, and a movable coin supporting element carried by thecoin pusher and adapt-ed to be shifted to an inner position in the pathof travel of the coin to support the same.

3. The combination with a rotatable element adapted to be secured to thewinding element of a clock works, of a pivoted lever adapted to engagethe rotatable element, a movable coin pusher arranged near the lever andhaving a coin engaging element arranged opposite to the lever and spacedtherefrom. a movable coin supporting element carried by the coin pusherand adapted to be shifted inwardly in the path of travel of the coin,and'means' to normally retain the coin supporting element in the outerposition. I

4. In coin controlled mechanism. a movable element. a coin pusher havinga part adapted to engage a coin and move it into engagement with themovable element. and a coin supporting element connected with the lidrelation to the pusher at substantially a right angle to the directionof movement of the pusher.

5. In coin cont-rolled mechanism, 'a movable element, a 'reciprocatorycoin pusher having a coin engaging part to shift a coin into engagementwith said element, said pusher having a transverse opening formedtherein, a coin supporting element extending through the opening andmovable trans- 10 versely of the pusher, and yielding means to opposethe inward movement of the coin supporting element.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

HOWARD R. ROBERTS.

